1/21/2008 12:50:00 pm -
Reported by
R Alan Siler

The Royal Shakespeare Company's recent production of King Lear, starring Sir Ian McKellan in the title role and featuring Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy as the Fool, was filmed for HDTV, reports www.theatermania.com.

The production began in its run at The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 2007 before embarking on an international tour. It recently concluded its run in London's West End.

The show will be broadcast by American PBS stations in autumn and Channel 4 in December, in addition to being carried by a number of other international stations, such as NHK Japan. Plans are also in place to release the production on DVD internationally.

CORRECTION: Although theatermania.com reported that the production would be aired on "BBC Channel 4", this appears to be an error. The Stagereports that the adaptation was commissioned by Channel 4, not BBC4.